Lamp mounting



Feb. 18, 1958 R. H. -Bx-:R-rscHE. r 2,824,214

` LAMP MOUNTING Filed Aug. 1s, 195s INVENTOR ATTORNEY United StatesPatent O LAMP MOUNTING Ralph H. Bertsche, Detroit, Mich., assignor toGeneral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of DelawareApplication August 13, 1953, Serial No. 374,079

9 claims. (Cl. z4041) This invention relates to lamp mounts and hasparticular reference to means for mounting a headlamp of the sealed beamtype in an automobile.

Though it has become standard practice in the art vto use lighting unitsof the sealed beam type for vehicle headlighting, the use of suchlighting units is relatively expensive in that the failure of the lightbulb necessitates replacement of the complete light unit assembly. Asidefrom the normal bulb failure due to burning out of the filament, suchlighting units are subject to failure by reason of the accumulation ofdirt, dust, moisture, water, and corrosive salts in the lamp casingwhich act to short out and corrode the terminals of the light bulb. Thisis especially true in the case of military and commercial vehicles whichare subjected to normal driving conditions of extreme severity.

Attempts have been made in the past to weather-seal the ball and socketjoint between the lighting unit and the lamp lcasing by using a rubbersealing gasket therebetween. Such expedients were without success sincethe seal interfered with the aiming of the lamp.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a lamp of simpleand inexpensive construction adapted to prolong the life of the sealedbeam lighting unit.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a headlamp mountingwherein the electrical connections are sealed from contamination.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a headlampmounting which provides for the effective sealing of the electricalconnections and permits ready adjustment of the aim.

To attain .these objects, I provide a .resilient sealing boot having alaterally extending flange around the bulb terminals and connector, themounting member being provided with a seating flange for urging the bootflange against the reflector.

Further objects and advantagesof the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of the headlamp of my invention with partsbroken away.

Figure 2 is a front View of the headlamp of my invention with partsbroken away.

Referring now to the drawing with particular reference to Figure 1,there is shown a sealed beam lighting unit A comprising a lens 1 andreflector 3 sealed together at their peripheral flanges to form a bead5. A light bulb 7 is positioned therein at substantially the focal pointof the reilector. A pluralityV of unequally spaced locator lugs 9 areformed on correspondingly located spacing steps 11 positioned on therear surface of the bead 5.

The light bulb 7 is provided with a plurality of terminals 13 at therear thereof and projecting through to the exterior of the lightingunit. Electrical energy is supplied to the light bulb by means of aconnector 15 having a plurality of wires 17 attached thereto, the other2,824,214 Patented Feb.. 18, 1958 end of the wires being attached to themale portion 19 of a detachable connector projecting through the lampcasing.

Lamp casing 23 is formed in a generally cup-shaped conguration having arolled brim 25 and an annular channel 27 at its front end. A pair ofthreaded bushings 29 are positioned at the top and one side of thecasing in the channel 27 and serve as anchor points for a pair ofadjusting screws 31. The annular rim is apertured directly underbushings 29 in order that the adjusting screws 31 may projecttherethrough to the rear of the lamp casing. The head and shank ends ofthe adjusting screw are slotted in order to permit aiming of thelighting unit from either the front or rear of the lamp.

A mounting ring 33 is provided for receiving the lighting unit and formsa subassernbly therewith. A plurality of spaced outwardly pressed ribs35 are formed on ring 33 for vbearing yon the rolled brim 25 of the lampcasing which forms a ball and socket type connection therewith in orderto permit easy adjustment of the subassembly,

. lamp casing 23 serving as a support for the lighting subassembly. Themounting ring is further provided with a laterally extending peripheralange 37 at its outer edge in which there are formed a plurality ofunequally spaced apertures 38 for receiving the locating lugs 9 providedon the lighting unit. A pair of additional apertures 39 is provided atthe top and one side of the flange 37 for permitting the passagetherethrough of the adjusting screws 31, adjusting screws 31 beingrotatably attached to the mounting flange in any suitable manner. Asshown on Figure 1, the heads of the adjusting bolts 31 are necked downas at 41, the necked portions being journaled in the apertures 39.

The lighting unit A is retained within the mounting ring 33 by means ofretaining ring 45 lbearing on the front portion of bead 5 and beingattached to mounting ring 33 at a plurality of equally spaced points.Ring 45 may be attached to flange 37 in any suitable manner. As shown onFigure l, the threaded end of bolts 49 are surrounded by split ringclamps 51 positioned on the rear surface of the flange. A pair ofadditional apertures 42 are provided at the top and one side of the ring45 for permitting the passage therethrough of the head of adjustingscrews 31.

It should be noted that retaining ring 45 is formed with an annularouter portion 47 extending axially and rearwardly to overlap the outersurface of the lamp casing. This is an important feature of my inventionwhereby the lamp casing is shielded from any water, dirt or othercontaminants through which the vehicle may be moving. Further, theretaining ring 45 itself acts as the lamp door thus decreasing the costof the assembly. Additionally, in the headlamp of my invention it is nolonger necessary to remove the door to have access to the adjustingscrews.

I provide additional waterproofing and protection in the manner clearlyshown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. I provide a sealing boot 53 ofresilient insulating material, such as rubber, neoprene, butyl rubber,etc. for positioning on the rear surface of the reflector 3 andsurrounding the bulb terminals 13 and connector 15. Sealing boot 53 isclosed at the rear end and is provided with a plurality of passages 55for admitting the wires 17, an annular groove 56 being provided in theinner surface of the boot 53 for positioning the connector 15 therein.An annular flange 57 extending laterally outwardly is formed at the openend of the boot and is adapted to be urged against the rear portion ofthe reflector thus effectively sealing the electrical connections fromthe casing. In my preferred embodiment, a plurality of concentricsealing lips 59 are formed on the frontsurface of .the sealing ilangeand act as a plurality of sealingl barriers when in intimate contactingrelation with the reflector. It should be noted that whereas this is apreferred form, it may be omitted without departing from the spirit ofmy invention. Y

The mounting ring 33 is provided on its inner peripheral edge with aseating flange 61 extending inwardly in substantially parallelrelationship with the reflector portion immediately adjacent thereto.The spacing of the flange 61 from the reilector surface and thethickness of the sealing flange 57 are such that the sealing flange ispressed into intimate sealing contact with the reflector on clamping thelighting unit A within the mounting ring.

The headlamp assembly above described as mounted on the vehicle in theusualV manner. As shown in Figure 1, the lamp casing 23 is bolted to thevehicle by means of attaching members 63 and resilient vibrationabsorbing members 65 sleeved therearound.

As is readily seen from the above description, the electrical elementsof the headlamp are efficiently sealed -by boot 53 from contact withcontaminating dirt and/or water, moisture and corrosive salts which actto short out the bulb filaments and thus make it necessary to replacethe lighting unit before the otherwise possible life period has passed.The aim of the lamp in the horizontal and vertical planes is adjusted byrunning either one or both of the adjusting screws 31 up or down in thethreaded bushings 29. A tension spring 40 is attached to the lamp casing23 in the annular channel 27 at one end and to the mounting ring 33 atthe other end and serves to yieldingly urge the lighting subassemblyagainst the supporting brim 25 and oppose the action of adjusting screws31. It should be noted that this adjustment of the lamp subassembly isfree and unhindered since only the electrical connections at the rear.of the subassembly are sealed as distinguished from the sealing of theentire headlamp which, as taught by the prior art, necessitates the useof a sealing gasket between the movable lighting unit and the fixed lampcasing.

While I have provided convenient means for attaching the lightingsubassembly to the lamp casing, retaining ring to the ball type mountingring, and lamp casing to lthe vehicle structure, it should be wellunderstood that other forms might be adopted. I also wish to particu-Iarly point out that the sealing boot of my invention may be used withlamps of construction other than the ball and socket type, the seatingflange being then formed on any suitable member ofthe lamp mounting.

While the form of the embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted7 as may come within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is:

l. In a lamp, the combination of a lighting unit within a lamp casing,said lighting unit comprising a reflector, lens and light source withinsaid reflector, said light source having a plurality of terminalsprojecting through the back of said rellector, means for mounting saidunit within the lamp casing, resilient means positioned on the rearportion only of said reflector and around said terminals insealingrelationship therewith, a laterally extending flange formed on said`resilient means and contacting only said retlector, and means formed onsaid first mentioned means and bearing on said llange to urge it intosealing Contact with said reflector, said lamp casing being nonresilientand extending over only the rellector portion of said lighting unit.

2. In a lamp, the com-bination of a lighting unit within a-lamp casing,said lighting unit comprising a retlector, lens and light source withinsaid reflector, said light source having a plurality of terminalsprojecting through thc back of said reflector, means for mounting saidunit within the lamp casing, a connector engaged with said terminals,a-resilient sealing boot positioned on the rear portion only of saidrellector and around said connector and said terminals forming a sealtherewith, a laterally extending llange formed on said boot andcontacting only said reflector, and a seating flange formed on saidmeans and bearing on said boot ilange to urge it into sealing contactwith said reflector, said boot flange having a plurality of concentricsealing lips formed on its reflector contacting face.

3. The combination of a lighting unit comprising a reflector, lens andlight source within said reflector, a mounting for said unit extendingover the reflector and having a substantially spherical seating surface,a ring overlapping the front edge of said unit, means securing the ringto said mounting and clamping the unit therebetween to form asubassembly, a support for said subassembly comprising a cup-shapedmember having a rolled brim, said ring having an annular portionoverlapping the forward side portion of said support and being in spacedrelationship thereto, means attached to said support at one end and tosaid mounting at the other end for yieldingly urging said subassemblyinto engagement with said rolled brim at one side, and adjusting meanshaving one end attached to said support and the other end to saidmounting at the other side to permit aiming of said subassembly, theforward side portion of said support being free of vehicle attachingstructure.

4. In a headlamp, the combination of a lighting unit comprising arellector, lens and light source withinsaid reflector, a mounting forsaid unit extending over the reflector and having a substantiallyspherical seating surface, a ring overlapping the front edge of saidunit, means securing the ring to said mounting and clamping the unittherebetween to form a subassembly, a support `for said subassemblycomprising a cup-shaped member having a rolled brim, resilient meanshaving one end attached to said support and the other end to saidmounting for yieldingly urging said subassembly into engagement withsaid rolled brim at one side, adjusting means having one end attached tosaid support and the other end to said mounting at the other side topermit aiming of said subassembly, terminals projecting through the backof said reflector, resilient sealing means positioned around saidterminals and having a laterally extending portion formed thereon, andmeans formed on said mounting to bear on said portion and urge it intosealing contact with said reflector.

5. In a headlamp, the combination of a lighting unit comprising areflector, lens and light source within said reflector, a mounting forsaid unit extending over the reflector and having a substantiallyspherical seating surface, airing overlapping the front edge of saidunit, means securing the ring to said mounting and clamping the unittherebetween to form a subassembly, a support for said subassemblycomprising a cup-shaped member having a` rolled brim, said ring having aportion overlapping said support and functioning as the headlamp door, aspring having one end attached to said support and the other end to saidmounting for yieldingly urging said subassembly into engagement withsaid rolled brim at one side, adjusting screws having one end attachedto said support and the other end to said mounting at the other side topermit aiming of said subassembly, a plurality of terminals projectingthrough the back of said reflector, a resilient sealing boot positionedaround said terminals, a laterally extending flange formed on said bootand contacting said reflector, and a seating flange formed on saidmounting and bearing on said boot flange to urge it into sealing contactwith said reector.

6. The combination of a lighting unit comprising a reilector, lens andlight source within said reflector, a mounting for said unit extendingover the reflector and having a substantially spherical seating surface,a ring overlapping the front edge of said unit, means securing the ringto said mounting and clamping the unit therebetween to form asubassembly, a support for said subassembly comprising a cup-'shapedmember having a rolled brim, means yieldingly urging said subassemblyinto engagement with said rolled brim at one side thereof, adjustingmeans acting between said mounting and said support at the other side toresist the force of said yielding means and permit aiming of saidsubassembly, terminals projecting through the back of said reector, asealing boot made of resilient material positioned around saidterminals, a laterally ex tending flange formed on said boot andcontacting said reector, and a seating flange formed on said mountingand bearing on said boot flange to urge it into sealing contact withsaid reector, said boot flange having at least one `concentric sealinglip formed on its reflector contacting surface.

7. In a headlamp, the combination of a lighting unit comprising areector, lens and light source within said reflector, a mounting forsaid unit extending over the reector and having a substantiallyspherical seating surface; a ring overlapping the front edge of saidunit, means securing the ring to said mounting and clamping said unittherebetween to form a subassembly, a support for said subassemblycomprising a cup-shaped member having a rolled brim surrounded by anannular channel, said ring having a portion overlapping the side portionof said annular channel and functioning as the headlamp door, a springhaving one end attached to said support in said annular channel and theother end to said mounting for yieldingly urging said subassembly intoengagement with said rolled brim at one side, ladjusting screws havingone end attached to said support in said annular channel and the otherend to said mounting at the other side to permit aiming of saidsubassembly, a plurality of light source terminals projecting throughthe back of said reflector, a connector engaged with said terminals, asealing boot made of resilient material positioned around said connectorand said terminals, a laterally extending llange formed integral withsaid boot and contacting said reflector, and a seating flange formed onthe central portion of said mounting and bearing on said boot ange tourge 6 it into sealing contact with said reflector, the side portion ofsaid annular channel being free of vehicle attaching structure.

8. In a lamp wherein a lighting unit is adjustably supported within anon-resilient lamp mounting, said lighting unit having a plurality ofterminals projecting through the back thereof, the combination therewithof resilient means positioned on the rear portion only of said lightingunit and about said terminals in sealing relationship therewith, alaterally extending llange formed on said resilient means and contactingonly the back of said lighting unit, and bearing means formed on saidlamp mounting contacting said ilange to urge said ange into sealingcontact with said lighting unit.

9. A lamp wherein a lighting unit is adjustably supported within anon-resilient lamp mounting, said lighting unit having a plurality ofterminals projecting through the back thereof, characterized by the factthat a resilient sealing boot is positioned on the rear portion only ofsaid lighting unit and about said terminals in sealing relationshiptherewith, said boot having a laterally extending flange contacting onlythe back of said lighting unit, and a seating ange formed on said lampmounting bearing on said boot ange to urge it into sealing contact withsaid rellector, said boot ilange having `a plurality of concentricsealing lips formed on its lighting unit contacting face,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,745,901 McKay et al. Feb. 4, 1930 1,784,539 Rieker Dec. 9, 19302,246,808 McKechnie June 24, 1941 2,334,899 Bosten et al Nov. 23, 19432,347,055 Johnson Apr. 18, 1944 2,423,664 Ryder July 8, 1947 2,508,063Gross May 16, l()

